בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
Painting by: Baruch Nachshon z”l
In this parsha Kedoshim Hashem commands us “to be holy for Hashem is holy and sanctifies us.” This painting exhibits themes that remind us of the holy status of Israel such as tzitzit and tefillin, Hasidim representing the pious, and fish considered a symbol of Yosef the Tzadik – the righteous. Regarding tzitzit there is an explicit verse that says “you shall be holy unto Your God.” Regarding tefillin, our Sages said that it is a sign that “the Name of Hashem is upon you.” In this context we also see the letter shin, which represents the Name Shadai as is the custom in mezuzot. In many of R’ Nachshon’s paintings, this letter/Name seems to represent the presence of the Holy Presence. In addition, we find two yods from the right and left, which customarily hint to the Name of Hashem. These letters/names seem to show how the holy Presence/Name is upon Israel, as signified by the tzitzit and tefillin as well. Note also five “beams” to the right and five to the left, apparently hinting to the ten commandments, ordered in this way on tablets of stone.
We see here dualism associated to the number seven, the classic Jewish number that appears in many of R’ Nachshon’s paintings. For example, we see three Hasidim to the right and three to the left, with a “winged figure/flame” at the center, altogether seven figures in a similar arrangement to the Menora. In the “blue pomegranate” we see four Hasidim to the right and four to the left with a Hasid in the center, a matter that seems to resemble the hanukia [which has a ninth candle as the “shamash”], which is also associated to the Menora. Here, however, the dominant number is eight, considered associated to the seven in the sense that seven represents holiness in the natural world, while eight represents holiness in a supernatural sense. Yet again we see dualism circa the number seven in the seven drops seen at the top of the painting to the right and the left.
Hebron joins these ideas together, for Hebron is the living and burial place of our holy Patriarchs and Matriarchs with whom the Holy Presence rests, and Hebron is also associated to the number seven, as it says “Hebron was built seven years before Zoan of Egypt.”